New flower, new spider-hunting wasp
The plant of Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) first recorded in the window box in 2006 is carrying its first flowers.
These flowers dangling from red bracts are followed by berries that, by all accounts, are edible so I might be able to harvest my first Wbx crop in a few weeks time.
While photographing this I noticed a small, black spider-hunting wasp sitting on a Wbx tutsan leaf.
This is Anoplius nigerrimus, a common species here but one that scarcely ever stays still long enough to get a decent photo. This one was very obliging and seemed to be taking an unusually long rest on the leaf. Later though I saw it restlessly hunting for spiders with its usual agitated, questing character.